Machine gun mount



March 6, 1945. WEAVER 2,370,896

MACHINE GUN MOUNT Filed Oct. 2, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet l zzkerzZZr Q5727?S. VVeauer March 6, 1945. WEAVER MACHINE GUN MOUNT 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Whoa/2207 Lbfirga naaefl w Filed Oct. 2, 1940 March 6, 1945.

J; s. WEAVER 2,370,896

MACHINE GUN MOUNT Filed Oct. 2, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 6,1945' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE GUN MOUNT John S. 'Weavcr;Downey, Calif., assignor, by mesne'assignmcnts, to Consolidated VulteeAircraft Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application October 2,1940, Serial No. 359,312

14 Claims.

The present invention, relates generally to mounts for machine guns;More particularly the invention relates to that type of machine gunmount which is associated with, and forms a part of, the gunners cockpitof a military or naval airplane and comprises a curved or arcuate trackfor supporting the-machine gun so that it is bodily movable intodifferent angular positions for firing purposes. Y

t It has heretofore been common practice in connection with a mount ofthis type to support the arcuate track byway of a plurality of laterorimpractical to employ a track of light weight because the weight andvibration of-the gun, especially when the gun is fired While-in aposition.-

between the brackets, tend so to distort or defiect the track that thegunner cannot fire accurately. A heavy track is manifestly'objectionablebecause it afiects the speed and maneuverability of the airplane. z

The primary object of this invention is to provide a machine gun mountin which'the support for the arcuate track supports and engages thetrack throughout substantially its entire periphery and makes itpossible to employ a track of light weight while at the same timemaintaining accuracy of machine gun fire.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine gun mount of thetype under consideration which is generally of new and improvedconstruction and not only hascertain'inherent advantages over previouslydesigned mounts of the same general character butalso is durable andeffectively and efiiciently fulfills its intended purpose.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages andcharacteristics of the present machine gun mount will be apparent from aconsideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in theseveral novel features which arehereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at theconclusion hereof. v

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification'or disclosure and in which like letters and numerals of referencedenote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentaryvertical longitudinal I sectional view of anairplane having applied to 55 the gunners cockpit thereof a machine gunmount embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view illustrating in detail the arrangement anddesign of the main supporting plate and the auxiliary parts forsupporting the arcuate track of the mount throughout substantially theentire periphery thereof;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section of the improvedmount Figure 4 is .an enlarged vertical transverse section taken on theline 4-4 of Figure 2 and illustrating the manner in which the ends ofthe track are secured to the longerons at the sides of the gunnerscockpit;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective of the mount; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical transverse section on the line 6-6 ofFigure 3. Q The mount which is shown in the drawings constitutes thepreferred form orembodiment of the invention. It is illustrated inconnection with an airplane A and serves as the medium for supporting amachine gun G so that it may be swung from side to side by the gunner inconnection with firing thereof. The airplane A is of standard orconventional design and comprises a fuselage at having in the aftportion thereof a gunners cockpit a As shown in Figures 1 and 2 of thedrawings the cockpit a is provided with a seat a for the gunner. Thisseat is suitably supported so that the gunner may rotate or turn it intodifferent positions in connection with firing of the gun G. The fuselagea of the airplane A embodies a pair of laterally spaced longerons a andthese extend across the side portions of the gunners cockpit 'a and arecross connected at their rear ends by a tubular cross member a. Themachine gun G is adapted to be aimed and fired by the gunner while thelatter is on the seat a in the gunners cockpit and is pivotallyconnected at the bottom thereof to a C-shaped bracket 9 so that it maybe tilted up and down. The bracket g is carried by the improved mount ashereinafter described and embodies a plurality of upper and lower frontwheels g and a plurality of upper and lower rear wheels 9 These wheelsare substantially horizontally positioned and are carried by thebracketg so that they are free to rotate. The longerons a and the crossmember a constitute a frame structure which forms a part of the mountand serves as a supporting medium for the latter. The mount for themachine gun G comprises I a. semicircular track I and a plate 8 forsupporting the track. The track I is located in the upper frontfaces ofthe upper and lower heads 10 and I i of the track and the rear wheels 9fit against and ride on the rear faces of the twosheads.

The wheels so connect the bracket to the. track that the brackettogether with the machine gun.

G is free to swing around theftrack-throughou't .v

substantially the entire length of the track. The

bracket embodies a handle controlled locking device 9 whereby it may belocked at any point or position on the track I. The track ispreferably-forwardly and downwardly inclined at a small acute anglewithrespect to the horizontal. The bracket 9 and the track I so support themachine gun that thelatter may beswungbodily to eitherside 'of the.gunnerfs cockpit vfor firing purposes, and theipivotabetween themachine gun and the bracket a ipermits ithe gun to-be-tilted verticallyashereinbeforeipointed out.

The plate 8 together with an arcuate channel member 12 servesuto holdthe track] in fixed relation with the fuselage: of the airplane. It isin uthe form of aone piece metal stamping and consistseof a pair of sidepieces-J3 anda back piece [4. The bottom marginal portions of thesideiipieces are straight and rest \upon the 10n-- gerons a of thefuselage, as shown in Figure 5.

-They' are U-shaped in horizontal sectionand are releasably secured infixed relation with-the longerons by. way of c-shaped clamps I 5 which"extend around- -the 'longerons and are anchored to thelside pieces'bybolts [6. The lowermarginal portion of the back piece-M of the=plate Bis also straight and it rests upon -the cross member (1* :of thefuselageand is releasably secured to such member-by-smeans of c-shapedclamps H. Thelatter extend around the cross member a and are connectedto the back piece ll -by way of bolts 1 8. The front ends of the sidepieces i3 of the plate B term inate rear wards of the ends of the---track -1.

The-upperportion of theplate 8 is shaped -to form an-arcuate band-like*piece I9 andthis is disposed rearwards of thetrack I. The plate u isreinforced against bending or ,flexure by -way of upwardly extendingoutstruok ribs 20.

The latter-are spaced equidistantly apart and extend from the band-likepiece I9 to the 'bottom edge of the plate 8.

The arcuate channel member [2 extends between and serves to connecttogether the bandlike piece [9 of theplate 8 andtheweb 9 of the trackl.It is formed of suitable metal-stockand consists of an upstandingintermediate web 2| and vertically spaced substantially horizontallyextendingsidelegs 22. *Theintermediate web 2| of the member l2 fitsagainst the rear face of the web 9 of the track land is rigidlyconnected tothe track by way of bolts 23. The latter extend throughaligned holesin the webs! and ll. The

side legs "22 of the member 12 extend rearwards andare provided without-turned flanges 24. The latter, as shownin Figure 5, fit against theband-like piece IS of the plate I and aresecured to said plate bywayofrivets li jThe bolts 23 ,80 support t the-track throughouttheuentire length The upper and lower marginal portions of the web 2|engage the heads l0 and II of the track with the result that the trackis so interlocked with the member l2 that it is supported throughoutsubstantially the entire outer periphery thereof. The ends of the memberI2 project beyond the ends of the band-like piece IQ of the plate 8 butterminate however slightly rearwards of theend extremities otthetraclo1.. The end portions of the side legs fl ot the channel member 12 arereinforced by short channel pieces 26.

The latter fit between the end portions of the :side ilegsi 22 of themember I2 and embody inwardly extending,side legs 21 which fit within"andiarelriveted tothe ends of the side legs 22.

TIIeJfianEBS HTdLthe member 12 terminate at the ends 'of"the"band-likepiece IQ of the plate '8 withtharesrilt that the ends of the side legs22 are flangeless. Such ends are cut so that the outer edges thereof arestraight and extend parallel; "to therlongerons :a. 1 The ends of thetrack-1 are ifixcdly i or emidly connected to r said ilongeronscby 3apair; orupstanding brackets 28.

Theseebraoketsiare bolted-:tmthe longerons a and "are alsozboltedrtoathe Meb l of theutrack.) The upper ends. ofithe;bracketsuprojecteabove the i upper :iside lies: ofethexchanneltmember i I 2 and serve i asnstops :iior llmitingmtravel uofthe; gun bracket 9 around the track. Theubraekets an, therchannelimember Al and :thel plate :8 serve to thereof. qxBy reasom of:zthe *tactuthat thetrack is supportedfihrwghmlhllts antire length it ispossible 5 :to make ithextracknexceptionally light 'and "there is :noilikelihood iofithe track bending orxiistorting under the :weightandivibrationnof the-gun G and interferingnwith raccurate' marksmanshipQnthe' partofLtheEgunner.

Theiherein describedmachine gun mount'may :be "manufactured at a i low'am'd reasonable cost and "is exceptionally J light .while i at the sametime it .is rigid and durabie. -Due to the shape and design-of thepllite 8- it serves as 1 a protective shield and -aflords lthe gunner acertain amount of the design o't lithe track and the manner *in -whichthe track issupported: the -gun= G is rigidly "held' in *plaoe when itis locked-in place at any predetermined point on the track.

'I'hednventiodds not to be understood *as restricted to the details settorth since these "may outtheentirelength of the intermediate web 2|.

be modified within'the scope "of the appended claims withoutdepartingfromthe spirit" and scopepr the invention.

Having --thus Hes bribed the invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by'LettersPatthereof attached to said, IrameLstructure, bandprovided at its upper portion with fixed means engagingand-*seburedtothewebof the track and interlocked with the track headsthroughout substantially; the "entire "length of the track. 2. Amachine*gunnnountcomprising atrame structure, anarcuate track 'of I-beamcross section and comparatively light metallic stock,

adapted'to support the gun for movement therearound disposed abovetheframe structure and consisting of'upper and lower heads and a webbetween the heads, and an upstanding substana fixed part curvedconformably to the track engaging and secured to the outer periphery ofthe web of the track and interlocked with the track heads throughoutsubstantially the-entire ..length of the track, and servingto reenforceand impart rigidity to said track.

3. A machine gun mount comprising a frame structure, an arcuate trackdisposed above the frame structure and adapted to support the gun'portion, and an arcuate channel member fixed to aid arcuate upperportion of the plate and having the web thereof engaging and secured tothe track throughout substantially the entire length thereof. 7

5. A machine gun mount comprising a frame structure, an arcuate track ofI-beam cross section disposed above, the frame structure and adapted tosupport the gun for movement therearound, a substantially rigid plateattached to, and extending upwardly from, the frame structure and havingan arcuate upper portion extending around, and spaced outwardly from,the track, and an arcuate channel member fixed to said arcuate upperportion of the plate and having the web thereof engaging and secured tothe web of the track.

6. A machine gun mount comprising a frame structure, an arcuate trackdisposed above the frame structure and adapted to support the gun formovement therearound, a substantially rigid plate attached to, andextending upwardly from, the frame tructure and having an arcuate upperportion of less length than the track extending around, andspacedoutwardly from, the central portion of said track, an arcuatechannel member fixed to said arcuate upper portion of the plate andhaving the web thereof engaging and secured to the track throughoutsubstantially the entire length thereof, and its ends projecting beyondsaid arcuate upper portion, and reinforcing elements disposed in, andsecured to, said ends of the arcuate channel member.

7. A machine gun mount comprising a frame structure, an arcuate trackdisposed above the frame structure and adapted to support'the gun formovement therearound, a substantially rigid plate attached to, andextending upwardly from, the frame structure and having an arcuate,upper portion of less strength than the track extending around, andspaced upwardly from, the centralportion of said track, an arcuatechannel member fixed to said arcuate upper portion of thelplate andhaving the webthereof engaging andsecured to the track throughoutsubstantially the entire length thereof, and its ends projecting beyondsaid arcuate upper portion, and short channel shaped elements fittingwithin and secured tosaid ends of the channel member.

8. A machine gun mount comprising a frame structure, an arcuate trackdisposed above the frame structure and adapted to support the gun formovement therearound, a substantially rigid plate attached to, andextending upwardly from, the frame structure and haying an arcuate upperportion extending around that portion of the track which is between thelatters ends, an arcuate channel member fixed to said arcuate upperportion of the plate, and having the web thereof engagingvand secured tothe track and its ends terminating short of the ends of the track, andbrackets extending between, and secured to, the frame structure and theends of the track. I

9. A machine gun mount comprising a frame structure, a substantiallysemi-circular track of I-beam cross section for supporting the gun formovement therearound disposed above the frame structure and consistingof upper and lower heads and a Web between the heads, a substantiallyrigid plate attached to, and extending upwardly from, the framestructure and having an arcuate upper portion extending around thatportion of the track which is between the latters ends, an arcuatechannel member fixed to said arcuate upper portion of the plate andhaving the web thereof engaging and secured to the Web of the track andinterlocked with the track heads throughout substantially the entirelength of the track and its ends terminating short of the track ends,and brackets connected to, and extending between, the frame structureand said track ends.

10. In combination with an airplane having a gunners cockpit togetherwith longerons at the sides of the cockpit and a cross member betweenthe longerons, a machine gun mount comprising an arcuate track at thetop of the cockpit, and an upstanding substantially rigid plate arrangedand designed to form a protective shield for the gunner, having thelower margin thereof U-shaped in horizontal section and attached to thelongerons and cross member, and provided at its upper portion with anarcuate part curved conformably to the track and. engaging and securedto the latter throughout sub stantially the entire length thereof.

11. In combination with an airplane having a gunners cockpit togetherwith longerons at the sides of the cockpit and a cross member betweenthe longerons, a machine gun mount comprising an arcuate track ofcomparatively light weight at the top of the cockpit, and an upstandingsubstantially rigid and imperforate plate arranged and designed to forma protective shield for the gunner, having the lower mar gin thereofU-shaped in horizontal section and attached to the longerons and crossmember, and provided at its upper portion with a fixed arcuate partcurved conformably to the track and engaging and secured to the latterthroughout substantially the entire length thereof and serving tostrengthen and impart rigidity to said track.

12. In combination with an airplane having

